We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Lawns Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Lawns Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice:
People were supported to stay in contact with family and friends, in line with national guidelines. There was a dedicated, adapted room for visits, which was accessed separately from the garden. The service was part of a project being run by the provider to look at how they could promote people’s human rights through their visiting arrangements.
Staff used technology positively to minimise the risk of infection. We observed a video call with a health professional to look into concerns about a person’s oral care. Staff used technology positively to involve the person in the discussion.
Cleaning staff used an updated checklist with the key contact points which needed to be cleaned to help minimise the risk of infection. The list was practical and easy to follow. Senior staff used this list as part of their quality checks. We found a good level of cleanliness during our visit to the service.
Morale was good at the service, with staff committed to promoting people’s wellbeing, under challenging circumstances.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
About the service:
The Lawns is a residential care home, providing personal and nursing care for up to 52 older people. On the day of our inspection 48 people were living at the service. The service accommodates people across two floors, which has separate adapted facilities.
People’s experience of using this service:
People were safe living in the service. Risks had been identified and people were looked after safely.
Staff were kind and caring and supported people to be as independent as possible.
People had access to healthcare professionals when required and were supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain their well-being.
Staff knew how to care for people, they were kind and compassionate. Staff used their skills and the resources and equipment provided so the risk of accidental harm or infections was reduced. Staff had developed effective skills to meet the complex needs of the people at the service.
People were supported to have their prescribed medicines safely to remain well.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
Positive partnerships had been developed with external health and social care professionals. People benefited from good multi-disciplinary working.
The registered manager had clear oversight of the service and worked alongside staff. Staff were respectful of the registered manager and told us the registered manager was approachable and supportive.
Rating at last inspection:
Good (date of the last report published was (6th April 2017).
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor this service in line with our re-inspection schedule for those services rated as Good.
The Lawns nursing home is registered to provide accommodation and care for up to 52 people, some of whom may be living with dementia. There were 50 people living at the service at the time of our inspection.
The service has a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People were safe because staff supported them to understand how to keep safe and staff knew how to manage risk effectively. There were appropriate arrangements in place for medication to be stored and administered safely, and there were sufficient numbers of care staff with the correct skills and knowledge to safely meet people’s needs.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which apply to care homes. We found the provider was following the MCA code of practice.
People had access to healthcare professionals. A choice of food and drink was available that reflected their nutritional needs, and took into account their personal lifestyle preferences or health care needs.
Staff had good relationships with people who used the service and were attentive to their needs. People’s privacy and dignity was respected at all times.
People and their relatives were involved in making decisions about their care and support. People were treated with kindness and respect by staff who knew them well and who listened to their views and preferences.
People were encouraged to follow their interests and hobbies. They were supported to keep in contact with their family and friends.
There was a strong management team who encouraged an open culture and who led by example. Staff morale was high and they felt that their views were valued.
The management team had systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided, and to drive improvements where this was required.
This inspection took place on 9 and 10 April 2015.
The Lawns Nursing home is registered to provide accommodation for 52 older people who require personal or nursing care. There were 51 people living at the home on the day of our inspection.
A registered manager was in post in the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.’
Staff had attended training on safeguarding people. They were knowledgeable about identifying abuse and how to report it. Recruitment procedures were thorough. Risk management plans were in place to support people to have as much independence as possible while keeping them safe. There were also processes in place to manage any risks in relation to the running of the service.
Medicines were safely stored, recorded and administered in line with current guidance to ensure people received their prescribed medicines to meet their needs. People had regular access to healthcare professionals. A wide choice of food and drinks was available to people that reflected their nutritional needs, and took into account their personal lifestyle preferences or health care needs. People enjoyed the food and drinks provided.
People were supported by skilled staff who knew them well and were available in sufficient numbers to meet people's needs effectively. People’s dignity and privacy was respected. Staff approach to people was kind and caring. Visitors were welcomed and people were supported to maintain relationships and participate in appropriate social activities and outings.
Staff were well trained and used their training effectively to support people. Staff understood and complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff were able to demonstrate a good understanding and knowledge of people’s specific support needs, so as to ensure their and other’s safety.
Care plans were regularly reviewed and showed that the person, or where appropriate their relatives, had been involved. They included people’s preferences and individual needs so that staff had clear information on how to give people the care that they required. People told us that they received the care they needed.
People were able to express their views and were confident that their complaints or concerns were listened to, taken seriously and acted upon.
The service was well led as people knew the manager and found them to be approachable and available in the home. People living and working in the service had opportunity to say how they felt about the home and the service it provided. Their views were listened to and actions were taken in response. The provider and registered manager had robust systems in place to check on the quality and safety of the service provided, to put action plans in place where needed, and to check that these were completed.
We gathered evidence of people's experiences of the service by talking with people, their relatives and staff. We observed how people spent their time and noted how they interacted with other people living in the home and with staff.
We saw that staff asked people's consent with everyday tasks and people were treated with respect. One person said: 'The carers always ask me before doing things, they are very polite in that way.'
People experienced safe care in comfortable surroundings which had recently been refurbished. They were very happy with the standard of cleanliness in the home and with the overall refurbishment. The records showed that people had care plans and risk assessments in place which were regularly reviewed so that their changing care needs were met appropriately.
The required amount of staff to care for people safely had been agreed and this was being monitored.
We found that an effective monitoring and management system to ensure the health and wellbeing of people who used the service and staff was in place.
experiences, for example as a result of their limited verbal communication or poor
cognitive ability, we noted their non verbal cues and these indicated that the majority of
people were relaxed and comfortable and found their experience at the home to be
positive.
One relative told us that they had nothing but praise for the care staff and they were very
happy with the care and support provided to their relative. They told us that their relative
was very settled at The Lawns. The only negative comment was in relation to staff
shortage in the recent months; they said staff were always cheerful and attentive but there
seemed to be less of them now.
Two people spoken with told us that they felt safe and that, if they had any concerns or
worries, they would discuss them with a member of staff. One relative spoken with told us
that they were confident that any areas of concern raised would be listened to, taken
seriously and acted upon.
A person living at the home told us that 'It's quite nice here. The staff are very good. They always knock on the door before they come in. They are very kind.'
We received the following comments from relatives 'They look after X. They are welcoming, helpful staff. X feels safe. X goes out for lunch and to church.' and 'X has never looked so well for years. We have no concerns whatsoever.' and 'I sleep at night knowing X is in here. ' and 'X feels safe. I have no concerns whatsoever.'